Nashville delights in return of the Doves

Oct. 15, 2013
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After showing her video "Overcomers" Mandisa receives an award of her own at the 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday Oct. 15, 2013. / Gannett/ Larry McCormack, The (Nashville) Tennessean

by Dave Paulson, The (Nashville) Tennessean

by Dave Paulson, The (Nashville) Tennessean

After two years in Atlanta, the 44th annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards took place Tuesday night at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena, and Nashville's Christian music stars dominated the stage and drove home Music City's status as a major hub for faith-based music.

In terms of sheer numbers, the night belonged to an artist who didn't claim Nashville, Atlanta or any other U.S. city as home: British songsmith and worship leader Matt Redman, whose six wins included songwriter and song of the year for his 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord). But one of the night's top honors - artist of the year - went to Christian pop mainstay and Nashville-area resident TobyMac, and local names were called throughout the evening, from Hendersonville, Tenn., singer Jason Crabb (Southern gospel performance of the year) and Nashville duo for King & Country (new artist of the year).

TobyMac also opened Tuesday night's show, kicking off a night of performances that saw rock giving way to rap, traditional gospel and electronic dance music.

"I love setting the pace for the rest of the night," TobyMac said before the show. "Showing (the audience) that gospel music, the Dove Awards isn't all about hymns and church music. It's about God's word going out in all forms of music."

As Amy Grant and her awards co-host Kirk Franklin greeted the audience at Allen Arena, Grant told them the Doves would "honor and showcase the best and the brightest, we'll respect our roots and get excited about the future."

Franklin, who seemed to enjoy going off-script, made a promise to Doves founder Bill Gaither, seated in front: "Tonight, there will be no twerking."

Sure, the Doves are clean-cut, but also far from stodgy.

Franklin-based duo Capital Kings staked their claim as Christian music's answer to electronic star Skrillex, and Washington, D.C., rapper Trip Lee had the crowd - packed with plenty of hip-hop novices - on their feet with his speaker-rattling tune. But so did an all-star salute to Gaither featuring local bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent, and Atlanta gospel favorite Tasha Cobb's show-stopping Break Every Chain.

Occasionally, it was the stars themselves who were stopped in their tracks. Nashville Christian star and reality TV vet Mandisa was surprised with a special "uplift someone" award, and beamed as she spoke to the crowd.

"It is my absolute joy and privilege to be able to make music," she said, "and to share it with my brothers and sisters in Christ."

Faith came first throughout the night as winners shared their thoughts. For TobyMac, making music boils down to a message.

"We enter each session the same way," he said. "We tell God we'd be honored if he would bring something through us, as we sit down to write, that will turn us toward him."